Friday, June 6, 2008

Ever since creating the blog, I have tried a huge number of new, different ingredients. I can’t even list them anymore – too many for my poor memory to gather up.

One of those ingredients is allspice. I’d seen it around in several recipes but it only premiered in my kitchen last week, when I baked these tender and light madeleines. For a spice fan like me, it was about time.

Speaking of "premiere" and "fan", “SATC” opened here last Friday and I absolutely loved it! I couldn’t wait to watch the movie – I have all the DVDs and have seen each episode 3-4 times; I like it to the point of knowing lots of lines by heart... :)All the girls are fantastic, but Samantha is still my favorite – not only she’s the funniest of them all, but also the prettiest. And the oldest!

Special equipment: a madeleine pan with 12 (7.5x5cm/3-by 2-inch) molds

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 200ºC/400ºF. Brush molds with some melted butter, then chill until set, about 5 minutes. Brush molds again with some melted butter and chill pan.

Sift together flour, baking powder, spices, and a pinch of salt.

Whisk together sugars and eggs until combined well. Add flour mixture and whisk until just combined, then stir in remaining butter (6 tablespoons) until just incorporated. Spoon batter into molds, filling them about two thirds full. Bake 5 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 175ºC/350ºF and bake until springy to the touch and edges are lightly browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn out onto a rack and cool 15 minutes.Just before serving, dust with confectioners’ sugar.

*the original recipe calls for ground coriander; I preferred to use cardamom instead.

I just had a piece of madeleine before this, and immediately I thought of you, sweetie! No kidding! And true enough, you've amazed us once more with another variation of madeleine. They look absolutely stunning as always :)

It originally called for ground coriander!! That's kind of... O_o Hmm :) Anyway, you are totally a cookie monster, the Brazilian mistress of madeleines :D (Pierre Herme considers these cookies, so I do too :)

I'm not a huge fan of SATC, but I have watched every episode (I certainly haven't memorized every line). I decided not to watch the movie because the version here is addled with so many cuts that it's now R-13! What 13 year-old even watched the show to begin with?! It's stupid. I'll just wait for the DVD.

My favorite line is Charlotte's... The one that begins "I'm tired of having a relationship with a p****s!"... And Samantha's "They chased me out of the building like I was F**kenstein!"

Mark, I love it when Samantha says to Charlotte "honey, you are so uptight you should do a number 7" (about doing a number 2 in the boyfriend's house). Sam Jones rules! :)Please, let me know when you watch the movie, I'd love to hear your opinion about it, my friend.And I love all the nicknames you have given me. ;)